Angels make Wells disappear ... from stadium entrance

Angels All-Star <b>Mark Trumbo</b> has replaced Vernon Wells alongside Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson in the promotional banners at the main entrance to Angel Stadium.<br> PHOTO BY LANDON HALL/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – For hundreds of dollars, the Angels have made Vernon Wells disappear from the front of the stadium.

It will take about $50 million more to take him completely out of the picture.

During the team's recent nine-game trip to Baltimore, Toronto and Cleveland, one of the large promotional banners at the main entrance of Angel Stadium was swapped out. Wells' banner was replaced by one featuring All-Star Mark Trumbo. The new banner was in place for the four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles that ended the first half of the season this weekend.

The decision to swap out one of the banners (one of the most striking promotions that greet fans at the stadium) in mid-season is apparently unprecedented. It was a marketing decision – one made with no input from the baseball operations side of the Angels' front office – according to a team spokesman.

"Everything we try to do around here from a marketing standpoint, we try to keep current," said Angels vice-president of communications Tim Mead. "It's just simply the fact that he's on the 60-day disabled list and you've got a couple other options that are performing and active. That's it."

Wells has been on the DL since May 20 when he tore a ligament in his right thumb. He had surgery two days later and is not expected back until the end of this month at the earliest. Wells is still one of the players featured in promotional photos around the stadium (on pillars throughout the concourses, for example)

The Angels did have another prominent player go down with an injury that landed him on the 60-day DL – and kept him out of action for nearly two years. But Kendrys Morales was not featured on one of the six super-sized banners at the main entrance to the stadium.

"Out front – that's a big focal point of our marketing," Mead said. "It's no different than the way we change ads (on TV and radio) over the course of the season to stay current."

The Angels also plan to replace the banner featuring the team's ace Jered Weaver with a more up-to-date photo (featuring the long hairstyle Weaver currently sports). Weaver's current banner (like Wells') has been up since the start of the 2011 season. Other banners – featuring Mike Scioscia and Bobby Abreu and commemorating the franchise's 50th anniversary season – have been replaced this year by banners featuring the team's big off-season acquisitions, Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson.

Wells began increasing his workouts over the past week, starting a throwing program and strengthening exercises that involved gripping a bat. During the All-Star break this week, Wells is headed back to his home in the Dallas area where he is expected to start swinging a bat – the first step in a progression that will take him through 'dry swings' (swinging without contact), hitting off a tee, soft toss, batting practice and eventually playing in games on a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment.

Under contract at $21 million per season through 2014, Wells has under-performed since his acquisition from the Toronto Blue Jays before the 2011 season. His return to the active roster will create a dilemma for the Angels who have had two All-Star outfielders (Trumbo and rookie Mike Trout) emerge during Wells' absence – making it possible that Wells could become either a very expensive fifth outfielder or a disruptive presence in the lineup.

"You always face different situations," Scioscia said. "This thing could turn six different ways by the time he comes back and plays so you really can't speculate on what's going to happen.

"What Vernon does – he's a special player when he's right and that's his focus right now, getting healthy. We'll obviously look at where we are and what's going on (when he returns). But it's still a long ways away."

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.